Subutex Buprenorphine 2 mg/0.5 mg medication became available in 2002 to help aid in the treatment of opioid dependence. Before the introduction of Subutex and another combination drug called Suboxone, the primary medication used to treat opioid addiction was called methadone. Methadone could be helpful but also had many downsides as well, including the fact that it’s also addictive. Subutex, which is a brand name drug, contains the active ingredient buprenorphine. It’s a sublingual tablet, which means that when it’s taken the person is supposed to put it under their tongue and let it melt, rather than swallowing it whole or chewing it. Subutex is less controlled regarding its availability than methadone. It can be prescribed by doctors who are trained and certified in its administration, whereas with methadone people have to go to specialty clinics and they can only use the drug at those clinics. The reasons Subutex is less controlled include the fact that it has a lower potential risk of abuse, addiction, and overdose. So what are the Subutex ingredients? As mentioned, this drug contains only one active ingredient which is buprenorphine. Before being introduced as an option to help treat opioid dependence, the active ingredient of Subutex was used as a pain reliever. Buprenorphine acts on certain brain receptors in many of the same ways as other opioids like prescription painkillers, but without the full effects of a euphoric high. It’s classified as a partial opioid agonist, so when someone uses Subutex Buprenorphine 2 mg/0.5 mg, the buprenorphine binds to opioid receptors and helps to trick the brain into thinking it’s taken the drugs it’s dependent on. This serves as a way to help people avoid painful withdrawal symptoms as they attempt to stop using drugs, so they’re better able to focus on their treatment and recovery. They may feel some sense of well-being when they use Subutex, but again, it’s not the euphoric high of opioid drugs, so it’s not considered a very addictive medication.